'It's not the end' - PAS leader wants Umno courtship to continue

With the general election due next year, PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz wants his party to maximise efforts to work out an arrangement with Umno and Perikatan Nasional (PN) to prevent three-corner fights.

Umno and PAS relations have soured because the latter refuses to ditch PN, which is led by Bersatu, an Umno splinter party.

However, Nik Abduh (above) maintained that there is no "dead end" and negotiation efforts should continue.

"Seat negotiations must be pursued to the maximum to avoid three-cornered clashes in the 15th general election," he said.

He said this is consistent with the party's Syura Council's decision to strengthen both PN and Muafakat Nasional.

Muafakat is a pact between Umno and PAS, while PN is a coalition comprising Bersatu, PAS, GPS, Star, and SAPP.

However, Umno also leads the BN coalition with its partners MCA, MIC, and PBRS. The dominant faction in Umno is gearing BN up for a clash with PN.

This was also demonstrated in last November's Malacca polls, where BN clashed with PN and Pakatan Harapan. BN emerged victorious, securing a two-thirds majority in the state assembly with 21 out of 28 seats.

PN only managed to pick up two seats through Bersatu, while PAS failed to win anything.

"PN is a noble effort by PAS. If Umno rejects it, it should not be equated with the end of Muafakat Nasional comprising PAS and Umno.

"It is not difficult to find a resolution," said Nik Abduh, who is also the Bachok MP.